Suction cup



May 24, 1932- o. c. RITZ-WOLLER SUCTION CUP Filed Nov. 14, 1931InVerfT0fi- QM, C

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Patented May 24 1932 I CLIVER C. RITZ-WOLLEB, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOISSUCTION CUP Application filed November 14, 1931. Serial No. 575,052.

My invention relates to suction cups and has for its object theprovision of a new and improved form and arrangement of parts by the useof which a supply of non-volatile 6 sealing agent maybe insured betweenthe cup and the surface upon which the cup is used for preventing theleakage of air into the cup. It is one of the objects of my invention toprovide a construction of this type in which a collapsible pocket orchamber is provided for the sealing agent so arranged and positionedthat upon the application of the cup into holding position by pressurethereon the pocket shall be collapsed for forcing out the sealing agentinto effective sealing position.

To this end, it is one of the objects of my invention to provide anarrangement in which the means providing the pocket projects more orless into the concavity of the dished disc comprising a part of the cupso as to insure at least a partial collapsing of such chamber when thecup is applied. It is another object of my invention to provide anarrangement by reason of which a way of escape for the sealing agentfrom the pocket into the space thereabout may be maintained when the cupas a whole is distorted and flattened against the surface to which thecup is being applied by reason of the pressure necessary for applyingthe cup into holding position.

It is another object of my invention to improve devices of this type insundry details hereinafter pointed out. The preferred means by which Ihave accomplished my several objects are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings and are hereinafter specifically described. That which Ibelieve to be new and desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth inthe claims. I

In the drawings,-

Fig. 1 is'a side view of my improved cup shown in applied position upona plate glass such as the windshield of an automobile;

Fig. 2 is a side view of a similar cup in applied position upon a partsuch as the fenderof an automobile;

Fig. 3 is a side view of my improved cup in normal condition beforeapplication into holding position Fig. 4 is a bottom face view of thedevice as shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken at the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 5 but showing the ofthe parts when the cup is ing position upon a smooth changed positionapplied into holdsurface Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail beingsubstantially a section at line 7-7 of Fig. 5

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing an additional cooperatingpart; and

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing a modified form ofconstruction.

Referring now to Figs. 1

cated by indicates to 7 of the drawings, in which corresponding partsare indithe same reference characters, the dished disc portion of one ofmy improved devices secured in holding. position upon a piece of plateportion 15 being provided tion 17 on its outer face,

with a bail 18 glass 16, the disc I with a body porsupported from thebody portion 17.

In Fig. 2 I have shown an alternative use of one of my improved devicesin which a standard 19 is mounted by means of a socket member 20 uponthe body 17 of the device for holding the standard in upstandingposition.

My device is preferably formed of comparatively soft rubber, tion 15being formed int the dished disc por-- egrally with the body portion 17,as is clearly shown in Fig. 5. At the center of the disc portion 15 atthe concave side thereof, I have provided a chamber or pocket 21 theouter portion of which is formed with comparatively thin pliable rubberwall lapsible. when the plate 23, the walls 22 are portions 22 so as tobe readily col- As is clearly indicated in Fig. 6, device is compressedby its a cation to a surface such as the surface of ppli the pressedinwardly so as to very materially diminish the size of the chamber 21.

The device as a whole is fur ther distorted so as to cut down verymaterially the effective size of the annular groove 24 between the wallsof the chamber and the adjacent surface portions Under suchcircumstances, 22 are pressed very firmly a of the plate 23, with theres of the disc 15. the Wall portions gainst the surface ult that theopenvolatile. seah the Chamber 21 is indicated by reference numeral 28.When the cup as shown in Fig. 8 is to be applied in holding positionupon a surface, the plug 27 is'to be removed,.whereupon the requiredressure is to be applied to the outer face 0 the cup for pressin the airout of the dished disc member. s is above explained, the application ofthis pressure to the device serves to collapse the chamber 21, servingto force at least a portion of the sealing agent out of the chamberthrough the openin 25. Even when the device is pressed to t e limit ofits motion toward the plate upon which it is being applied a way ofescape for the sealing agent is still maintained by reason of the factthat the grooves 26 and 24 are still in communication with the outer endof the'opening 25. The result is that the sealing agent is distributedby pressure along the grooves and is spread by such pressurequite'completely over the face of the disc 15.

In the construction shown in Fig. 9, the outer wall portion 22 of thepocket or chamber is formed imperforate, the opening 25 being omittedwhile the construction remains otherwise the same. In this constructionthe non-volatile sealing agent 28 is inserted hypodermically, theresiliency of the material of the wall of the chamber being sufficientfor. closing the opening into the chamber after the withdrawal of thehypodermic needle. In this arrangement the sealing agent is preservedvery effectively for an indefinitely prolonged period in condition to beefficient for use. When the device of Fig. 9 is to be applied, the outerwall 22 is to be perforated at any desired point along one of thegrooves 26 so as to prepare the device for application to a surface withthe assurance that the sealing agent will be forced out into position onthe inner face of the disc 15 by the pressure incident to theapplication of the device to a surface.

The sealing agent employed may be silicate of soda, shellac, Vaseline,glycerine, or any other suitable material.

Suction cups embodying my improvements may be supplied with the sealingagent at the factory, and since the agent is effectively sealed in, thedevices may be stocked by distributors or dealers for long riods of timewithout the agent deteriorating or leaking out. Thus it is possible forany person to purchase a suction cu containing the proper amount of asuitab e sealing agent and in a moments time put it into use.

While I prefer to employ the form and arrangement as illustrated in mydrawings and as above described, it is to be understood that byinvention is not limited to such form except so far as the claims may beso limited by the prior art, it being understood that changes might Wellbe made from the form as shown without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

I claim 1. A suction cup comprising in combination a pliable dished discof resilient material, means on the outer face of the disc serving asanattachment means for an article to be supported, and. means providing achamber on the inner face of the disc extending somewhat into theconcavity of the dished disc so as to insure the application of pressurethereon when the cup is being pressed into operative holding position ona surface.

2. A suction cup comprising in combination a pliable dished disc ofresilient material, means on the outer face of the disc serving as anattachment means for an article to be supported, and means providing achamber at the inner face of the disc and having a collapsible portionextending into the concavity of the dished disc.

' 3. A' suction cup comprising in combination a pliable dished disc ofresilient material, means on the outer face of the disc serving as anattachment means for an article to be supported, means providing achamber at the inner face of the disc extending into the concavity ofthe dished disc so as to be compressed when the cup is pressed intooperative holding position on a surface, and

means for closing a restricted opening into said chamber.

4. A suction cup comprising in combination a pliable dished disc ofresilient material, means on the outer face of the disc serving as anattachment means for an article to be supported, and means providing achamber at the inner face of the disc extending into the concavity ofthe dished disc so as to be compressed when the cup is pressed intooperative holding position on a surface, the projecting portion of saidchamber having a restricted opening therethrough with its outer endarranged to communicate with a groove formed in the inner face of thedisc and extending about said projecting portion so as to provide ameans of escape for a supply of sealing agent from the chamber to theface of the disc when the cup is pressed firmly against a surface forsuction attachment thereto.

5. A suction cup comprising in combination a pliable dished disc ofresilient material, means on the outer face of the disc 30 a meansserving as an attachment means for an article to be supported, and meansproviding a chamber at the inner face of the disc extending into theconcavity of the dished disc so as to be compressed when the cup ispressed 'into operative holding position on a surface, the projectingportlon of said chamber having a restricted opening therethrough and theouter face of said projecting portion being provided with a grooveleading from the outer end of said opening to an annular grooveextending about said projecting portion. r

6. Asuction cup comprising in combination a pliable dished disc ofresilient material,imeans on the. outer face of the disc serving as anattachment means for an article to be supported, and means providing achamber at the inner face of the disc extending into the concavity ofthe dished disc so as to be compressed when the cup is pressed intooperative holding position on a surface, the projecting portion of saidchamber having a restricted opening therethrough and the outer face ofsaid projecting portion being provided with a groove leading from theouter end of said opening to a groove formed in the inner face of thedisc and extending about said rojecting portion'so' as to provide lescape for a supply of sealing agent from the chamber to the face of thedisc.

7. A suction cup comprising in combination a pliable dished disc ofresilient material, means on the outer face of the disc serving as anattachment means for an article to be supported, and means providing acompletely closed chamber at the inner face of the disc and having acollapsible portion extending 40 into the concavity of the dished disc.1 OLIVER C. RITZ-WOLLER.

